How To Find The Perfect Scent

From luxe and lavish to boho and flirty, there is a fragrance out there for every type of woman. Here, we break down the best new scents to suit your style.

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Ladylike & Feminine

Big white floral perfumes are making a comeback this season, the perfect accompaniment to the sophisticated, refined elegance we saw on the runways. This new crop, however, isn't like the aggressive boutiques of the '80s. "What you want is to smell like flowers, not mixed with too many different notes," explains perfumer David Seth Molts of D.S. & Durga. Look for creamy tuberose, velvety ylang-ylang, or heady gardenia, combined with warming elements, such as powder, cedar, or sandalwood, which help the fragrance settle on your skin and last all day.

When you're a "more is more" kind of woman, the type who doesn't shy away from exotic materials, plush textures, and a dramatic palette (or an intense smokey eye), you need a perfume to match—something sumptuous and enveloping. Scout out tempting blends of warm vanilla, molten cocoa, milky jasmine, aromatic patchouli, and honeyed wood that have an edible quality. "The idea of wearing a fragrance that smells like a dessert may not be attractive to most people," says Moltz. "But these are rich, complex, and a little over-the-top." For a lighter yet equally appetizing take, go for scents that also contain zesty fruits—think grapefruit, peach, and mandarin. "You want to be consumed by these," he says. "They are approachable but high-brow."

Women who appreciate menswear details married with unexpected proportions and strong silhouettes should explore fragrances in what perfumer Ilias Ermenidis calls the "blurred lines" category. "I could wear them, my wife could wear them—they are more rogue and abstract," he says. They're fresh and clean yet not overly masculine as in a sporty cologne. And they typically share lush ingredients; orange blossom, violet leaf, and lily appear frequently. But it's the addition of more unusual essences—edamame, ambergris, basil, blueberry—that makes them interesting and a bit chameleon-like. "You can get the impression of something oceanic, citrusy, or herbal," adds Moltz.

If your taste runs toward rock 'n' roll cool but with a girly edge, we suggest trying a sugary scent that has a bit of a bite. "These fragrances are playful and juicy," says Ermenidis. "I call them prismatic fruits—they're like a kaleidoscope." Go for luscious, tangy notes (raspberry, apricot, pear) mixed with soft florals (rose, peony, or freesia). If you want a more powerful scent, try one laced with white musk or cashmeran, a woody synthetic. For a creamier result, be on the lookout for ingredients not typically found in your garden, like almond milk and bio vanillin—a high-tech take on natural vanilla. Tip: Don't be quick to dismiss a perfume described as "sweet" before you smell it, advises Moltz. "It's not a great way to describe something." he says. "Sweet scents just need to be balanced. It's all about the proportions."

There are two ways to make an unforgettable entrance: wearing something that shows a strategic amount of skin, and leaving a trail of highly seductive perfume in your wake. Choosing the first option is up to you but for the second you'll want to focus on a few key notes: amber, saffron and incense or oud. "Amber is the new black," says Ermenidis. "There's this sexuality in the glow of amber; it's gilded." We love it blended with spicy cinnamon or earthy nutmeg. Saffron, which has a smokey, leathery quality, appears in many of fall's sultriest perfumes, as do both oud and incense. "Incense will always be cool—it's instantly recognizable," Moltz says. "You could just wear it on your skin with nothing else."

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